In a small, picturesque New England town, a war crimes investigator named Mr. Wilson is on the trail of Franz Kindler, a high-ranking Nazi fugitive who has erased nearly all traces of his past. Kindler has assumed a new identity as Charles Rankin, a respected professor at a local prep school. Wilson poses as an antiques dealer and befriends Mary Longstreet, Rankin's unsuspecting wife and the daughter of a Supreme Court justice. To flush out Rankin, Wilson uses Meinike, an old associate of Kindler's, who despite initially being cooperative, ultimately becomes a pawn in the intricate chess game between hunter and hunted.

The tension escalates as Wilson closes in, gathering subtle clues that link Rankin to Kindler's past atrocities. Meanwhile, Rankin, sensing the tightening noose, becomes increasingly desperate to protect his facade. He manipulates and deceives those around him, showcasing his cold calculative instincts. The local authorities and community members remain oblivious to Rankin's true identity, unknowingly facilitating his evasion. As Wilson's investigation inches towards a climax, Rankin's facade begins to crack, setting the stage for a confrontation that will reveal the true depths of human morality and justice.